Absorbent bandage



` March 1I, 1958 Hc. BRIEN ETAL 2,826,200

ABsoRBENT BANDAGE Filed Feb. 25. 1954 /2 /g y V INVENTQRS:

Hanan 6? Erw@ @az/d E. rfozes 2,826,200 ABsonBENr BANDAGE Huron C. Brien, Neenah, and David D. Jones, Menasha,

Wis., asslgnors, by mesne assignments, to Kimberly- Clark Corporatlon, acorporation of Delaware Application February 2S, 1954, Serial No.412,566

6 Claims. (Cl. 128290) "lhsinvention relates to an absorbent bandage forsurgicaLmaternity and similar uses and is particularly concerned withsuch a bandage having aan absorbent pad body consisting wholly orpartially of nely comminuted y material. The commnuted material may comprise wood pulp fiber randomly disposed in a layer of the desiredlength, breadth, and thickness to proved the require-d area of coverageand absorption capacity. Such cellulosic fibers are often referred to astluff, and such llutl': is well adapted to the purpose of makingabsorbent pads because it is relatively inexpensive and easilydisposable, becauseit produces a pad which is soft and 'readilyconformable to the body, and because a pad of this 'material has a veryhigh fluid absorbing capacity.

The use of such lluff for making bandages of the chartic'te'r indicatedis, however, attended with some difculty because the lluff is veryloosely integrated and usually rembodies 'a considerable amount Vof veryshort length fibers or lines which tend to dust out of the uff layer,that is to say, the fiber, especially the fines, tend to sepafate fromthe pad and 'to iloat out into the surrounding 'atmosphere and thencesettle, or to remain on the body of the wearer of the pad. Such dustingoccurs as an ineident to handling of the material during production ofthepad and as an vincident to handling of such pads for p'ekag'in'g andother purposes and when applying the pad (as a bandage component) to apersons body, and it is quite objectionable because it makes it verydifficult to maintain clean Working conditions and further because dustmay enter open Wounds.

vlt would appear to be a very simple matter to enclose 'th'e desiredlayer of ulf in a pervious retentive Wrapper yto prevent such dust, butpractical commercial consideralions in reference to the production ofsuch an enclosed Ailuif layer together with practical considerationsrelative to preserving the softness and conformability of the layer,Iits disposal after use, and its accessibility to fluid to be labsorbed,present problems which may possibly be solved :in numerous ways withvarying degrees of perfection.

:lt is an bbject of the present invention to provide an improvedabsorbent bandage containing an absorbing inedium made wholly orpartially of finely comminuted material, for example, uif, and in whichdusting is largely prevented. Other objects of the invention are toprovide a bandage of the character indicated which may I'easily formedby high speed, continuously operating mech- "ani`s`rn; to provide amethod whereby such a bandage may be manufactured economically and atlow cost; to provide it bandage of the character indicated which willembody Athe desired softness and conformability and freedom from chafingeffects and which will be readily disposable after irse; and otherobjects and advantages of the invention will be understood by referenceto the following specificationand accompanying drawing, wherein:

lFig. y1 is a representation of a series of steps in the pro- "iluctinof a bandage "embodying a selected form of the invention;

atent ICC 2 is a plan view of the improved bandage; and

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2, Fig. 3being on an enlarged scale relative to Fig. 2 Iand thicknesses ofcertain sheet material elements being 'exaggerated for illustrativepurposes.

The embodiment of the improved bandage selected for illustration, is ahospital matern-ity type of sanitary naprkin which is sterilized and isadaptable for use as a sur- 'gical dressing for wounds. The napkindesignated 10 in its entirety, lcomprises an absorbent filler or body 12of fluff material, which may be wood pulp fluff, cotton fibers,'synthetic fibers, or combinations thereof, which is col- 'lected in alow density, loosely integrated layer having a 'high capacity for uidabsorption, la pervious envelope 14 disposed around the iluff body orller 12, and in- 'cluding a pair of edge strips 22, and a gauze or othersuitable wrapper 16.

The filler 12 may be all fluff material or a sandwich combination offlul and wadding or any other suitable 'absorbent material. For thepurpose of this invention the filler 12 must extend to the four edges ofthe pad so 'as to impar-t the necessary softness to the pad.

The ller 12 is preferably wrapped to form continuous length batt 18 asshown in Fig. l. The batt 18 is made by depositing the fluifin a layeralong the longitudinal "intermediate portion of a sheet 19 of one ormore plies 'of pervious material, such las cellulose wadding, more'specically, very porous and iluid permeable creped tis- 'sue paper. Thesheet 19 is considerably wider than the ltiuif layer 12 which isdeposited on the sheet, and the longitudinal marginal side portions ofthe creped wadding sheet are folded around the sides and over the top ofsaid fluff layer. As shown in Fig. l, the sheet 19 is of such width thatwhen its side margins are folded over as above mentioned, they overlapon the top face of the ilui layer, the area of overlap being disposedmore or less centrally of the Width of the batt but preferably somewhatnearer to one side than to the other. The sheet 19 thus forms alongitudinally continuous jacket 21 around 'the fluff layer. The batt 18is made so that its width corre spends to the required length of theabsorbent pad for the bandage being made. The lines of creping in thesheet 19 extend, transversely of the length of the batt as indicated at19a, so that said lines of creping will extend lengthwise of individualller pads cut from the end of the batt.

The batt 13 is severed transversely at successive spaced intervals toform absorbent filler pads 20 of the desired width for the individualbandages. This method of forming the individual pads 2b is readilyadaptable to high speed forming operations, and results in a pad of thedesired size having an open ended tubular sleeve or jacket which coversboth faces land one pair of edges of the absorbent fluff component. Inthe specific embodiment, the jacket 21 encircles the length of the pad,so that the open ends of the jacket are at the longitudinal sides of thepad. Furthermore, the jacket 21 is applied to the filler in closerelationship thereto, so as to dimension the latter and confine thefiller to a predetermined area during the normal handling and use of thepad.

ln order to substantially eliminate dusting from the pad, a pair of sidestrips 22 are placed along the sides of the filler pad 20. These edgestrips 22 may also be made of pervious crepe tissue, they may be made ofmaterial which is formed or treated so as to be less pervious than thesleeve material, they may be made fluid resistant or repellent by sizingor other treatment, although this is not necessary, or they may be madeeven more pervious than the jacket 21. These strips 22 preferably extendsubstantially the entire length of the pad and are wide enough so thatlongitudinal margins of said strips may overlap the margins of thejacket or sleeve along both faces of the pad, as shown at 23 in Fig. 3.These stiips 22, which should adhere to the jacket 21, cooperate withsaid jacket to completely enclose the fluff layer so that dusting iseffectively prevented. In addition, the side strips 22 serve to furtherdimension the tille-r 12 in each pad. As a practical matter, said strips22 may terminate short of the ends of the pad, say about 1A; inch fromsaid ends. This will avoid a tendency, which may occur with the use ofsome types of filling material and for other reasons, for undesirablebulges or wrinkles to form in the end portions of said end stripsincident to flattening or thinning of the ends of the fluff layer. Suchattening or thinning tends to occur as an incident to the folding of thesheet 19 around the iluti layer and perhaps from other causes. When suchthinning occurs the edges of the face covering portions of the sleeveare brought so closely together at the pad ends that any opening whichremains at the ends of the pad sides is but an insignificant source offluff leakage and dusting When said edge strips 22 are made of crepedwadding, they are so made that the lines of creping extend transverselyof the pad edges, although they may be made with the crepe lengthwise ofthe pad.

The outer wrapper 16 is wrapped around the pad 20 and serves to hold thejacket 21 and the edge strips 22 in place around the insert 12. Thewrapper is preferably longer than the pad in order to provide the usualattaching tab end portions 24, and said wrapper is folded around the padso as to effect overlapping of margins of the wrapper, as shown at 25(Fig. 3) on the face of the pad on which the ends of the jacket sheet 19are lapped. Hence, the opposite face of the pad, which is the preferredbody-engaging face of the bandage, has but a single thickness of jacketand wrapper material over the absorbent utf. Hence, on this face of thepad there is a minimum obstruction to the passage of uid into theabsorbent fluff layer. However, the pad may be worn with either facenext to the body with satisfactory results, the permeability of thewrapper and jacket material being such that the overlapped portionsthereof do not produce an objectionable baffling effect.

The overlapped wrapper margins 25 may be suitably sealed together, forexample, by means of an adhesive bearing thread 26 interposed betweensaid margins. Such a seal is sufficient to hold the Wrapper in place,'but is easy to break when it is desired to open the wrapper in thecourse of disposing of the pad or for other purposes. The describedbandage construction affords all of the advantages of a llutf ller, i.e., high absorption capacity, softness and conformability, and readydisposability, while also substantially eliminating dusting of the flufffibers. Furthermore, the described construction is Very simple and iscapable of automatic manufacture at high production rates.

By having the lines of creping in the jacket 21 extend lengthwise of thenapkin pad as aforesaid, there is provided an important fluiddistributing effect, i. e., uid applied to a face of the banda-ge in alocalized area will tend to be distributed lengthwise of the bandage bythe crepe wadding jacket 21, and thus transmitted along the length ofthe absorbent layer 12 for absorption thereby, instead of being more orless confined to said localized area. Hence, more of the absorptioncapacity of the pad will be utilized and uid will be fairly uniformlyabsorbed throughout the length of the pad.

The side strips 22, even though not made of fluid repellent material,have a tendency to prevent fluid absorbed by the iluf from flowing outof the side edges of the pad, and this function may be somewhat improvedby making the strips fluid repellent. However, for some purposes theaddition of certain types of moisture-proofing agents is undesirable.These side strips also present soft and smooth surfaces along the edgesof the pad and cover the cut edges of the jacket 21, and thereby preventchating or irritation of the portion of the body which may be contactedby the side edges of the pad.

It is important that the side strips 22 adhere closely to the side edgesof the jacket 21, to form an enclosure Itherewith which prevents theaforementioned dusting and to prevent displacement of the edge portions22 during use of the pad. Preferably, the strips 22 are disposed inmarginal overlapping relation to the edges of the jacket to furtherinsure a close tit between the two. If desired, these two portions mightbe sealed together by an adhesive or the like, although such is notnecessary when material such as creped wadding is used wherein thematerials tend to adhere to each other Without the use of an adhesive.

The enclosing of the iluf material in the described manner not onlyprevents dusting during the necessary handling in manufacturing,sterlizing, shipment, and the subsequent functional use. The dustingproblem is particularly troublesome in hospitals where there isconsiderable handling of the pads, as during sterilization, with littleor no means for controlling the dust The enclosing of the insert is alsoan important factor in the efficiency of the bandage and its comfortcharacteristics.

It is advantageous that the ends and that one of the faces of the pad becovered by single thicknesses of jacketing material, and further thatthe jacket 21 be formed of a continuous sheet of material with its endsoverlapped on a face of the pad adjacent the longitudinal center of thepad. In this way, there are no hard or sharp, cut wadding end edges orend seams, and also, there are no open ends or end seams. Moreover, thewrapping of the jacket 2l endwise of the pad provides additionalmaterial at the ends of the pad for impeding the passage of fluids fromthe absorbent filler.

The disposition of the side strips 22 in the overlapping relation to themargins of the longitudinal edges of the pad on its opposite facespresent a pair of laterally spaced elongated areas of crepe waddingadjacent each edge of the pad on each face thereof, which are of doublethickness and, consequently, somewhat less pervious than theintermediate portion of the jacket material. Lateral flow of duid alongthe surface of the pads toward its side edges is somewhat impeded bythese areas of double thickness and there is less likelihood of surfacefluid reaching the side edges of the pad before it is absorbed by thefluff filler.

in one satisfactory maternity pad made as described, the jacket 2l andthe edge strips 22 were made of four-ply crepe tissue paper but this isnot a critical detail. The extent of overlap of the ends of the sheetwhich forms said jacket may be greatly varied, and in some instancessaid overlap may be reduced or eliminated, as wherein the ends abut eachother. The wrapper material was gauze but other wrapper materials, forexample, non-woven fabrics and thread reinforced pervious webs, may beemployed. Also, the length and width of the pad may be variedconsiderably from the proportions shown.

lt should be understood that for surgical dressings the tab ends 2d ofthe wrapper 16 could be eliminated. Furthermore, if the edge strips 22are adequately secured to the jacket 21 to insure the prevention ofdusting or the escape of foreign particles from the pad, the wrapper 16may be entirely eliminated from such dressings.

Although described with respect to the use of wood pulp fluff as theabsorbing medium for the pad, it should be understood that such use ismerely illustrative of one example, wherein it is important that finelydivided particles be effectively confined within an absorbent body.Other instances of the use of comminuted material within a surgicaldressing or sanitary napkin or like bandage Will be readily apparent tothose skilled in the art, as will be the application of the presentinvention. For example, it has been proposed to place discrete particlesof deodorant material in the absorbent fillers of sanitary napkins. lineither case, the principles of the present inaaaaaoo vention to whichthe appended claims are directed, can be advantageously employed inorder to retain such discrete particles in the filler.

We claim:

1. A bandage comprising an elongated absorbent pad body havingcomminuted particles therein, a pervious sheath covering said body, saidpervious sheath having a main elongated sheet portion extendinglengthwise around said body and having its ends joined at a positionintermediate the ends of the pad on a face thereof, and a pair ofelongated strips of fluid permeable sheet material disposed lengthwisealong the pad in covering relation to the side edges thereof, and apermeable wrapper encasing said sheath-covered pad body, said Wrapperbeing folded into open ended tubular form about said pad body and beingfolded around said strip-covered edges of said body so as to hold saidstrips in place.

2. A bandage comprising an elongated absorbent pad body havingcomminuted particles therein, a pervious sheath covering said body, saidpervious sheath having a main elongated sheet portion extendinglengthwise around said body and having its ends joined at a positionintermediate the ends of the pad on a face thereof, and a pair ofelongated strips of fluid permeable sheet material disposed lengthwisealong the pad in covering relation to the side edges thereof, apermeable wrapper encasing said sheath-covered pad body, said wrapperbeing folded into open ended tubular form about said pad body and beingfolded around said strip-covered edges of said body so as to hold saidstrips in place, said wrapper also being so folded as to cause marginalportions thereof to be lapped one over the other on the face of said padon which said sheath ends are disposed.

3, A bandage comprising an elongated absorbent pad body havingcomminuted particles therein, a uid pervious sheath of creped cellulosicmaterial covering said body, said pervious sheath having a mainelongated sheet portion extending lengthwise around said body and havingend portions in mutually lapping relationship intermediate the ends ofthe pad on a face thereof with the lines of creping extending generallylongitudinally of said `elongated pad body, and a pair of elongatedstrips of fluid permeable, cellulosic sheet material disposed length-Wise along the pad in covering relation to the side edges thereof, saidside strips comprising creped material having the lines of crepingextending generally longitudinally of said pad body, and a permeableWrapper encasing said sheath-covered pad body.

4. A bandage comprising an elongated absorbent pad body havingcomminuted particles therein, a pervious sheath covering said body, saidpervious sheath having a main elongated sheet portion extendinglengthwise around said body to present an open-sided tubular coveringand having its end portions in mutually lapping relationshipintermediate the ends of the pad on a face thereof, and a pair ofelongated strips of sheet material disposed lengthwise along the pad incovering relation to the side edges thereof, said main elongated sheetportion and said strips comprising creped cellulosic material arrangedso that the crepe lines therein extend generally longitudinally of saidelongated pad body, and a permeable Wrapper encasing said sheath-coveredpad body, said wrapper being folded into open ended tubular form aboutsaid pad body and being folded around said strip-covered edges of saidbody so as to hold said strips in place, said wrapper also being sofolded as to cause marginal portions thereof to be lapped one over theother on the face of said pad on which said sheath end portions areoverlapped.

5. A bandage comprising an elongated absorbent pad body havingcomminuted particles therein, a uid pervious sheath covering said body,said fluid pervious sheath having a main elongated sheet portionextending lengthwise around said body and having its ends joined at aposition intermediate the ends of the pad on a face thereof to presentan open-sided tubular covering, and a pair of elongated strips of sheetmaterial disposed lengthwise along the pad in covering relation to theopen side edges thereof, said strips having margins folded over theadjacent margins of said main sheet portion on both faces of the pad,and a fluid permeable outer Wrapper encasing said sheath-covered body.

6. A bandage comprising an absorbent pad body having comminutedparticles therein, a iluid pervious sheathing covering said body, saidpervious sheath having a. main elongated sheet portion extending aroundsaid body in one direction and having its ends joined at a position onone face of the pad to thereby present an open-sided tubular coveringfor the pad, a pair of strips of sheet material disposed along the openside edges of the pad in covering relation thereto, and a permeablewrapper encasing said sheath-covered pad body, said wrapper being foldedinto open ended tubular form about said pad body and being folded aroundthe strip-covered edges of said body so as to hold said strips in place.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,123,314 Kojima Jan. 5, 1915 1,169,490 Joseph Jan. 25, 1916 2,296,341Fourness Sept. 22, 1942 2,548,341 Bricmont Apr. 10, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS542,869 Great Britain Jan. 29, 1942

